No. 13 Miami Hands La Salle Worst Loss In History, 95-49
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PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Ivan Cruz Uceda scored 20 points and Tonye Jekiri had 10 points and 14 rebounds to lead No. 13 Miami to a 95-49 win over La Salle on Tuesday night.
The Explorers suffered their worst loss in a program that started in the 1931-32 season.
The Hurricanes (10-1) won their fifth straight game and blew open the game with a 27-9 run in the first 10 minutes of the second half.
Sheldon McClellan scored 14 points for the Hurricanes.
Ja'Quan Newton scored 10 points in his hometown return. Newton graduated Neumann-Gorretti in 2014 as the leading scorer in school and Catholic School League history with 1,972 points. Newton won four straight Catholic League championships, clinching titles at the Palestra, site of Tuesday's game.
He has one more reason to celebrate in Philadelphia.
Johnnie Schuler led the Explorers (4-5) with nine points.
Miami never flinched on the road and made short work of a La Salle team in a transition season under coach John Giannini.
Uceda hit a 3 for a 20-11 lead and McClellan's 3 attempt bounced high off the rim and plopped through the net to make it 27-15. McClellan opened the second half with a 3-pointer and the rout was on for the Hurricanes. Uceda hit four 3s.
Miami shot 50 percent in the first half (15 of 30) and the Explorers missed 8 of 10 3-pointers.
With Miami leading 83-43, a frustrated La Salle fan screamed from the bleachers, "Why don't give your starters a rest! You're only up 40!"
Coach Jim Larranaga never wavered and kept his rotation players in the game for a few more minutes.
"What are you, trying to set a record?!" the fan barked.
Trying or not, the Hurricanes did, humbling the Explorers three seasons after they reached the Sweet 16.
La Salle's previous worst loss was a 42-point defeat against C.C.N.Y. on Dec 15, 1945.
TIP-INS
Miami: The Hurricanes are 7-9 against La Salle in a series first played in the 1950-51 season. .... Larranaga's Miami teams have scored 85 or more points 19 times in 151 games, including eight this season. ... The final score was Miami's largest lead of the game.
La Salle: Jordan Price, who entered sixth in the nation in scoring at 24.6 points, scored only six points on 2 of 11 shooting. ... The Explorers had been 6-0 against Miami at the Palestra. ... La Salle has played at least one game at the Palestra, home of Penn basketball, the last five seasons.
UP NEXT
Miami hosts Princeton on Dec. 29.
La Salle plays Dec. 31 at Florida Gulf Coast
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